So, without further ado......
Our journey began with my 37 week appointment. I saw a new OB that was recommended by my midwife (had to see an OB due to gestation diabetes), and that OB stated in her medical opinion I needed to have a scheduled c-section due to the possible size of the baby- my 36w6d u/s guesstimate was 8 lbs 2 oz at that point. I told her I wanted to try a vaginal birth, and she tried to talk me out of it by scaring me with horror stories.
Soooo, I rescheduled my 38 week appointment with my MW even though I wasn't supposed to see her. When I went in, I told her about the OB, and that I at least wanted to give a vaginal birth a shot before giving in to a c-sec. She totally agreed with me! :) She said because I was a gestational diabetic, the placenta can start to deteriorate early (not to mention her size they were guessing) they wanted to induce me at 39 weeks.
Fast forward to Sunday, October 9th (39 weeks exactly). We went in at 0600, and was admitted right away. I dressed down, we got comfy and waited. They came in and got all our info, birth plan etc and then we waited some more. Almost 4 hours more :/
They came in and apologized for the delay... I guess they had 3 emergency deliveries, so of course we were ok with it all. They gave me this pill called MISO to help my cervix become even more favorable for the pitocin since I was only 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I had to lay there for a few hours, then they came back and checked me again. I had dilated to 3 cm, 60% effaced, but nothing much more. She said since I was having so many contractions, they could not give me another one to make sure they didn't harm the baby. I had to let my body do more laboring on it's own, then they would start pitocin once I did.
Now the fun stuff!! At 1645, the doc came back in, checked me and told me I was 4 cm, 60% effaced. They then started the pitocin. My contractions almost instantly became stronger and no longer felt like strong cramps. I was determined to try a med free birth, so I continued through them like champ. At 0400 on 10/10, I woke up and felt the need to use the restroom, and as soon as I stood up, I felt this gush of fluid. Since I had just woken up, I thought I was peeing myself and could not stop laughing! I was cracking up as the fluid just kept gushing down my legs onto the floor while I'm trying to gather my IV. LOL
I finally made it to the bathroom with the IV, and hollered for my husband to grab me a towel. Then I told him to get a nurse because I thought my water just broke.
Nurse came in, looked at the towel and told me it was my water, though it looked like meconium on the towel. Cue freakout! She told me not to worry, that it would be ok, they just monitor the baby a little bit more.
At 0500, the contractions became unbeareable to me, so I asked for the epidural. BEST THING EVER!!!!!!!!! I didn't like not feeling my legs, but no longer felt like I was dying (yes, I'm a big baby). I recommend an epidural if you're thinking about getting one.
Around 1600, the midwife came back in and said I was 9 cm dilated and almost 100% effaced- YAY! Almost time to push! :) They turned back the epi (per my request so I could feel my contractions and know when to push). I started pushing around 1700- and pushed for an hour. It was at that point they said the baby was "sunnyside up" and wanted to try and turn her since it can cause damage on the baby if she comes our face up. They turned up the epi again so that I wouldn't feel the urge to push, and laid me on my side with my leg up. I stayed like this for an hour before she came back in and had me start pushing again. With the epi turned back down, I started pushing and the midwife said she was still face up. :( I thought this would never end! She told me to keep pushing and she would manually try to turn her, so we went with it.
I pushed for another hour and a half when I'm not sure if she was seeing my fatigue, or if I was truly close, but she finally said I was so close to meeting my baby girl. The reason I question it was because my husband did overhear her talking to the nurse and mention the possibility of an emergency c-section :(
By this point I was exhausted and had no idea how I would keep going, but refused to give up since I had gone through all this and come this far. My husband was the best coach I could have asked for <3 He helped me and gave me the strength to push on. He coached me, fanned me when I overheated, held my hand and continuously told me how good I was doing. I love this man. Almost another full hour of pushing and our comes our little Amelia (face down I might add thanks to the MW). She was rushed over to the side to be cleaned up due to the meconium, but then was brought right back over to me and I never wanted to let her go. She was precious; the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on. The rest is a blur. I know they had me push a few more times to deliver the placenta, but I was so fixated on my husband and new baby, that I didn't pay any attention to the world around me. Recovery has been great (though still recovering) and Amelia is doing fantastic!! All 8 lbs 2 oz of her! I'm so glad I pushed for a vaginal birth, and went against the OB's advice. I had a wonderful, albeit long delivery, and wouldn't change it for the world.
Here's a picture right after birth :)
And another one earlier this week
If you made it all the way, thanks for reading!
xo
-Papps
